Clutch mechanism for starting and stopping the rotary motion of picking-fingers in cotton-picking machines.



. B. C. CALDERWOOD. CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR STAR-TING'AND STOPPINGIHEROTARY MOTIO N 0F PICKING Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

2 SHE'ETSSHEETI APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, I913- FINGERS IN COTTONPICKING MACHINES.

IlllllllLlll:llll:l llfillllll N B. C: CALDERWOOD." I CLUTCH MECHANISMFOR STARTING AND STOPPING THE ROTARY MOTION 0F PICK |NG Patented Man 7,1916.

Qm E N Haw m I 0 MA KN CA D E NL m TN 00 H M H RP EA G N F 2SHEETS-SHEET 2- clutch mechanism for starting and stopping. the rotarymotion of the piokingfingers 1n 'ftton-pi'cking machines *Whereby' anumber- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? BENJAMIN cmmnn CALDER-WOOD, orVALLEY FALLS, nnonn ISLAND, AssmNon 'ro PRICE-CAMPBELL common PICKERconrormrron, or NEW YORK, n, Y., A con- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR STARTING AND STOPPING THE ROTARY MOTION OF PIGKING-FINGIEIRS IN COTTON-PICKING MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern L" Be it known that I, BENJAMIN CRABTREECALDERwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valley Falls, inthe county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanisms for Startingand'Stopping the-Rotary Motion of Pick: ing-Fingers in Cotton-PickingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n a of cooperating pinion clutchesrevolve freely upon their respective shafts, and engage the teeth ofclutches keyed'to and sliding (with a vertical reciprocating motion) onthe same shafts and directly over and above the pinion clutches. Thepinion clutches are in constant mesh with a circular gear ring mountedon a fixed drum center, and with theclutches, revolve around a commonand equ1-.

distant centeru As the fingers approach the stripping mechanism theclutches rise on the arc of a lifting cam, thereby throwlng the clutchesout of engagement with the p1n1on clutches, allowing the latterto'rotate freely upon their'shafts, while the clutches with the keyedshaft remain stationary in rela tion to any rotary motion until theyslide off the lifting cam and again engage with the pinion clutches,when the shafts resume rotary motion. The rotary motion of the shafts,which each carry a series of spiral gears, andthe lower portions ofwhlch are inclosed in the carriers, is transmitted to the pickingfingers by a series of spiral pinions in each of the several carriers,and into which the fingers are socketed and keyed.

The objects of my invention are: first, to impart an intermittent rotarymotion to the picking fingers in cotton-picking machlnes; second, toinsure a positive rotary mot1on during the time the picking fingersengage the plant; third, to stop said rotary motion as the fingersapproach and pass through the stripping mechanism for the purpose ofremoving the cotton from the fingers; fourth, to secure a minimum ofshock and vibration by keeping the combined pinion-and clutchesSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar; '7, 1916'.

,. Application filed April 30, 1913. Serial No. t64,522.

these objects in a manner which will permit of speedy repairs andinterchange of parts. I attaln these objects by the means illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in

which i F gured is a top view of the drum with a port1on of the top drumplate removed,

.showing the lifting cam in its relation to the drum and the fixed gearring, with a clutch about to mount the lifting cam, one

riding the cam with the clutch teeth disengaged; a clutch about toreengage with the p1n1on clutch, and two clutches in full engagementwith the pinion clutches. Fig. 2 is the relationship of the clutch andpinion clutch in various positions. The upper carrier wheel is alsoshown in this view, together with a portion of the top of the carrierswith the picking ers removed. In

this view is also shown he driving chain and the drum shaft, to which iskeyed the carrier wheel. Fig. 3 is a top view of the drum center,showing the pinion clutches in mesh with the fixed circular gear ring,the

picking fingers in position in, the carriers,

and illustrates the, position of the picking fingers wh1le n theplantand in position for stripping of the cotton. Fig. 4 is atopview ofthe clutch, with the thrust collar for the tension spring on top. Fig. 5shows one of the clutches] riding on the lifting cam, with the clutchteeth out of engagement with the pinion clutch. This view also shows themanner in which the clutch slides with avertically reciprocating motionon'thekeyed shaft.

In the drawings, 1 is the lifting cam for lifting the clutches outof'eng'agement with the combined pinion and clutches; 2 are the.

the clutch tension springs, 4 the combined vpinion and clutches, and 5the clutch tension clutches 4; ,8'the upper part of spiral gearclutches, 3 the collars taking the thrust from shafts in thepicker-finger carriers, both well known, and '9 the drum center to whichis attached the lifting cam 1 and the fixed circular gear ring 7, andaround which revolves the picking mechanism.

is the upper drum plate, and 11 the screws by which the drum center 9 isbolted to the drum top frame 10.

' 12 is the drum shaft; 13 and ll a small portion of the carriers withthe picking fingers removed.

15 shows a clutch in the act of rising on the lifting cam 1; 16 a clutchriding on the lifting cam 1 with the clutch teeth out of engagement,causing the shaft 8 to cease rotating; 17 a clutch about to slip downthe incline on the lifting cam 1, and 18 is a clutch off the lifting cam1 and in full engagement with the pinion clutches t.

19 is the main translating cam for determlning the position of thepicking fingers while engaged in the plant and during the period whenthey are passing through the stripping mechanism.

20 is the driving chain, 21 the drum shaft driving chain sprocketcoupling, 22 the bolts which hold the cam 1 in position on the drumcenter 9, and 23 the main cam arms, which are keyed to the carriersl l.

24 are the picking fingers.

25 is the stripping mechanism, and 26 the spike roller which propels thecotton during the stripping process into the elevating mechanism.

What 1 claim is,

1. The combination of a clutch mechanism for starting and stopping therotary from the pinion-clutches the latter rotating freely upon theirrespective shafts during such disengagement.

2. The combination of a fixed circular drum; a lifting cam mountedthereon; and

a series of rotating clutches arranged to engage the lifting camscria-tim and to be lifted thereby; a series of traveling picker-fingercarriers each provided with a series of rotatable picker-fingers; ashaft for giving rotation to each series of picker fingers; a clutchmember carried by each shaft and adapted for periodic engagement witheach of said series of clutches during theapproach of the picker fingersand while passing through stripping mechanism; and such strippingmechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 25th day of April, 1913.

BENJAMIN CRABTREE CALDERWOOD.

\Vitnesses G. BLAKE, WILLIAM J. Doves.

